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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Saturniidae
890041.1 – 7730   Hemileuca maia (Drury, 1773)
             Buck Moth
Distribution Data for Hemileuca maia
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Similar Species:
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy: • Phalaena maia Drury, 1773
• Hemileuca lintneri Cockerell, 1914
• Bombyx proserpina Fabricius, 1775
• Hemileuca maia maia Drury, 1773
• Hemileuca maia sandra Pavulaan, 2020
• Hemileuca maia warreni Pavulaan, 2020
• Hemileuca maia orleans Pavulaan, 2020
Taxonomic Notes: Hemileuca maia (Drury, 1773) is treated as a species complex composed of several subspecies in Pavulaan (2020). The nominate subspecies, H. m. maia, "Coastal Barrens Buckmoth", is confined to eastern MA, RI and Long Island, NY.
References
  • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Some specimens shown may not be sequenced. DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness not proof of identification.
  • Cryan, J. F. & R. Dirig, 2020. Moths of the past: Eastern North American buck moths (Hemileuca, Saturniidae), with notes on their origin, evolution, and biogeography. Pine Bush Historic Preservation Project Occasional Publication, 2: 44.
  • Ferguson, D. C., 1971. Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 20.2a: p. 115; pl. 8.6-8. order or free PDF
  • Hall et al., 2021. The Moths of North Carolina - website (identification, habitats and life history)
  • Pavulaan, H., 2020. A phenotypic comparison of regional populations of Hemileuca maia (Drury, 1773) with designations of new subspecies (Bombycoidea, Saturniidae, Hemileucinae). Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey, 8(5): 1-16.
  • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
  • Species Page at Mass Moths
Hemileuca maia
© Ronnie Gaubert
Hemileuca maia
© Howell Curtis
Hemileuca maia
© Howell Curtis
Hemileuca maia
© Howell Curtis
Hemileuca maia
© Aaron Brees
Hemileuca maia
© Aaron Brees
Hemileuca maia
60mm – © Jim Vargo
Hemileuca maia
© Jerry Armstrong LG

Hemileuca maia
© Jerry Armstrong LG

Hemileuca maia
© Aaron Brees LG
on Redroot (Ceanothus herbaceus)
Hemileuca maia
© Lee Ruth

Hemileuca maia
© Lee Ruth

Hemileuca maia
© Lee Ruth

Hemileuca maia
© Howell Curtis

Hemileuca maia
© Tom Murray

Hemileuca maia
© Tom Murray
1st instar
Hemileuca maia
© Teα Montagna LG
1st instar on Quercus ilicifolia
Hemileuca maia
© Tom Murray

Hemileuca maia
© Aaron Brees LG


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